February, 2006 - Nr. 2
K-W Ballroom Dancing – Underground?
by Herwig Wandschneider
K-W has this amazing undercurrent of Ballroom Dance enthusiasts, beginning with Dance Lessons for all those who want some exercise and learn the fine and gracious art of moving across the dance floor. But then is the challenge of finding a place to practice, an integral part of learning the art according to Horst Kessler, of Kessler Dance Studio in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Regrettably, live big band ballroom music has not yet made its comeback to the dance floor in this area. A valiant attempt was made by the Concordia Club Band under the baton of Dale Schmidt to mix 1940’s Jazz with Latin and Ballroom combined with Jeff Benoit’s Swing Riot Group demonstrating and teaching the basics of jive, but on a regular basis that was just too expensive.
However, on a smaller scale, live ballroom music with a two-piece band (keyboard and drums) exists at the Black Forest Inn in Conestogo 3 out of 4 Sundays a month from 4-8pm (the 4th Sunday is Jazz with a 3-piece band). What makes this ballroom dance style so popular appears to be its combination with a sumptuous buffet.
Otherwise there are several latin and ballroom dances organized by disc jockeys in various localities. But finding out about them is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Unless of course you are taking dance lessons with Horst Kessler’s , who seems to know all the places between here and Bancroft.
There is DJ Christa. She actively organizes ballroom dancing at the Alpine Club once a month. She organizes the well attended event by renting the Dance Hall. But who would know when? No indication on the Alpine Club Event Schedule on their website. All you see is what is planned by the club, not what someone organizes by renting the club facilities. (Note: DJ Christa also spins the discs at the Schenke of the Concordia Club once a month. But that is social dancing as she calls it - the Schenke does not have enough space to do Ballroom dancing. This event is organized by the Club). In March she plans to kick off the ballroom dance evening with line dance instruction at the Alpine Club.
The
same scenario applies to the Schwaben Club. There is DJ John Pries every
Thursday night in the Bier Keller, but the event is nowhere to be found on
the Club’s website. It is a public, not a club event. Couples are there
largely based on word-of-mouth, and clearly enjoy Ballroom dancing,
elegantly swooshing across the floor to music on demand. You want a
Meringue? A Cha Cha Cha? John will play it. The evening is billed as
Ballroom dancing and that is what is played, if there are no special
requests. An excellent place to practice, if it does not get too crowded. So
far the space is quite adequate.
Active ballroom dancers have of course heard of the Rainbow Rhythms, who organize a DJ event at Bingemans. Always popular, always with 1 hour dance lessons first, often led by Roger and Moira Hollingsworth and usually on Saturday evenings.
The list goes on, Victoria Pavillion, monthly with DJ Andy Mason, (Special Event organized by Zonta K-W, also at the Victoria Pavillion, on Feb 10 with various dance demonstrations by Horst and Kimberley Kessler), the Polish Legion with Rick’s Ballroom dance and Midnight Express, University of Guelph, etc. Most truly ballroom dances are monthly at best. John Pries wants to do it weekly at the Schwaben Club.
It looks like Ballroom dancing is back and growing. Ask Horst Kessler, he has for ever more students and teaches sometimes from morning to late at night. If you need to check out where the ballroom action is, well there is a website that gives you some idea, but you will have to do some of the legwork by calling the various places and get the actual details. But at least it pulls some of the Ballroom dancing venues out of the Underground. http://www.dancinglist.com/Dancelist/ontario/kitchenerwaterloo.html
